Saturday 19 / October / 2024
MUSCAT: In a match packed with drama, it was a single moment of fielding brilliance that defined a Super Saturday.
India A’s Ramandeep Singh pulled off a gravity-defying catch on the boundary, a moment of sheer magic that became the talking point of a nail-biting seven-run victory over Pakistan A in the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
With the game hanging in the balance, Ramandeep’s spectacular full-stretch dive left fans and commentators in disbelief, cementing his catch as the highlight of the tournament and sealing India’s win in one of the most thrilling finishes seen on the Oman Cricket Academy grounds.
The match itself was nothing short of exhilarating. Pakistan A, chasing 184, looked dangerous with opener Yasir Khan (33) leading a promising third-wicket stand with Qasim Akram (27).
Just when the momentum seemed to shift in Pakistan’s favour, Yasir launched a shot off Nishant Sindhu towards the boundary, only for Ramandeep to defy gravity with a full-length dive, plucking the ball from the air.
The catch, hailed as one of the finest seen in recent times, was met with gasps from the crowd and superlatives from the commentary box, with words like “Batman,” “Spiderman,” and “Superman” echoing in the stands.
India A had earlier set the stage with a strong batting performance, racing to 68 in the powerplay thanks to blistering starts from Abhishek Sharma (35 off 22) and Prabhsimran Singh (36 off 19).
Captain Tilak Varma played a pivotal knock, with a solid innings of 44 off 35 balls, supported by Nehal Wadhera
(25) and a quickfire 17 off 11 balls from Ramandeep Singh.
Their efforts guided India to a competitive total of 183/8, despite Pakistan’s Sufiyan Muqeem being the standout bowler, claiming 2/28, alongside contributions from Mohammad Imran, Zaman Khan, Arafat Minhas, and Qasim Akram, each taking a wicket.
Pakistan’s chase faltered early with Anshul Kamboj dismissing captain Mohammad Haris and Omair Yousuf, leaving the team reeling in the first three overs.
But it was Kamboj’s final over heroics, where he took the crucial wicket of Abdul Samad (25 off 15), that ultimately derailed Pakistan’s hopes.
Despite Arafat Minhas fighting 41 off 29 balls and valuable contributions from Abbas Afridi (18), India’s bowlers held their nerve. Kamboj led with 3/33, while Rasikh Salam (2/30) and Nishant Sindhu (2/15) offered crucial support in key moments of the thrilling match.
Pakistan A finished on 176/7, falling agonisingly short as India A secured a well-deserved victory, their defence anchored by Ramandeep’s unforgettable moment of brilliance.
Brief scores: India A 183/8 (Abhishek Sharma 35, Prabhsimran Singh 36, Tilak Varma 44, Nehal Wadhera 25, Ramandeep Singh 17; Sufiyan Muqeem 2/28) beat Pakistan A 176/7 (Yasir Khan 33, Qasim Akram 27, Arafat Minhas 41, Abdul Samad 25; Anshul Kamboj 3/33, Rasikh Salam 2/30, Nishant Sindhu 2/15).
